United Way of Greater Stark County reaches $7 million goal

We did it! After months of fundraising, raffles and phone campaigns, the United Way of Greater Stark County exceeded its goal of $7 million.

The Suburbanite

Writer

Posted Dec. 8, 2011 at 12:01 AM
Updated Dec 8, 2011 at 8:23 AM

Posted Dec. 8, 2011 at 12:01 AM
Updated Dec 8, 2011 at 8:23 AM

CANTON

It’s a wrap!

The United Way of Greater Stark County wrapped up its 2011 fundraising campaign Thursday night at The Repository in a celebratory manner.

“We made it!” exclaimed an exuberant Kevin Kampman, chairman of this year’s campaign, which raised $1,278 more than the United Way’s goal of $7 million.

“To achieve a goal like this requires tremendous effort from many, many people — the United Way staff, volunteers and all of the thousands of contributors,” said Kampman, publisher of The Repository. “I am proud to have played my part in this campaign.”

United Way of Greater Stark County seeks to improve lives by mobilizing thousands of people around a common goal — advancing the common good by focusing on education, family and financial stability, health and basic needs.

Money raised during the campaign, which kicked off in September, benefits more than 40 member agencies that meet the needs of Stark County, be they day care or medicine and everything in between.

“I am always very thankful for the generosity of our community,” said Maria Heege, president and chief executive officer of the United Way of Greater Stark County. “There are so many people here who are facing challenges of their own, but still, they step up to help others.”

The compassion and generosity of the people who live in Stark County is humbling, said Deborah Kampman, who chaired the campaign with her husband.

“Working at Catholic Charities, I see the need every day,” she said. “For me, this was really a personal campaign, knowing that every call we made, every rally we attended, was making a difference in the lives of people and families that I see day to day.”

Among the top supporters of the campaign were the Timken Co., Diebold, Aultman Hospital, Huntington National Bank, GE Money, and Fishers Foods and Fishers Foods Employees Civic Fund.

A couple of surprises at the wrap-up party were the introduction of Cindy Darr, who won the Super Bowl Get Away Raffle sponsored by The Repository and the Pro Football Hall of Fame, and an original, signed Jerry King caricature of the Kampmans to thank them for their participation in the campaign.

It has been a labor of love, said Kampman. He added, “The campaign was tough work, but we enjoyed every minute of it.”